Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while trying to repair campaign sign

The Guardian · The Independent and The Independent report that Bernadette Greene-Placentia, a Democrat seeking a U.S. House seat in Arizona, says she was raped while mending a damaged campaign sign in a parking lot around 2 a.m. The account first appeared Wednesday in the Phoenix New Times, and she says she is going public to encourage other survivors to speak. She is challenging Republican Representative Abraham Hamadeh.

She told the Phoenix New Times a blow to the head knocked her unconscious, and she came to with a man on top of her. A second man approached, she said, but retreated when she kicked toward him, remarking "Not even worth it." The Guardian · The Independent says the campaign dates the attack to August 14. The Independent places it near 99th Avenue and Bell Road, close to Sun City.

She reported it to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office about two weeks later; The Independent says the filing was August 31. The sheriff's office describes the investigation as ongoing. The Independent adds that she first told campaign manager Isaiah Lopez and communications director Craig Beckman.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian · The Independent and The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian · The Independent → Also at The Independent →